Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Feb 1: Kashmir valley received fresh snowfall and rains today leading to the closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and weatherman has forecast more rains and snow for next 36 hours with Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) issuing avalanche warning in the hills.
Around one feet of snow had accumulated in Jawahar Tunnel area and it was snowing heavily tonight forcing the closure of the National Highway but not before all Jammu and Srinagar bound vehicles were cleared by the traffic police.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that the highway was closed for traffic in the afternoon following heavy snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area. Reports said that around one feet snow had accumulated in Jawahar Tunnel area and it was still snowing.
Khan said that over 2500 vehicles were cleared towards Jammu from Srinagar this morning. “This includes 1600 heavy motor vehicles and 700 light motor vehicles. Around 60 LMVs with emergencies were also cleared towards Srinagar. Majority of the Jammu bound vehicles had crossed the Patnitop area”, he added.
The IG Traffic said that the highway was closed in the afternoon as it was heavily snowing in the area. “There is forecast of heavy snowfall during the night”, he added. He said that Doda -Bhaderwah road is open for traffic.
In the meantime, there are reports of heavy snowfall in North Kashmir hills since last night. Reports said that one feet snow had accumulated in Gulmarg, 2 feet in Gurez, 2 feet in Z-Gali, 2.5 feet in Macchil, 2.5 feet in Furqiyan and 5 inches in Kupwara, Lalpora, Kalaroos and Trehgam.
The Divisional Administ-ration on the basis of the information provided by the SASE has issued an avalanche warning in the hills of Kashmir following the snowfall. People in hilly areas have been asked not to make any movements in the avalanche prone areas.
The Director Meteorological Department in Srinagar, Sonam Lotus, today told Excelsior that the freak weather conditions will continue till February 3. He said that during this period plains will have light to moderate snowfall and hills moderate to heavy snowfall.
A Met official said that the snowfall started in the morning owing to cloudy sky during the night minimum temperature in the city appreciated by nearly three degrees from yesterday’s minus 2.9 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 0.2 degree Celsius. He said that the day temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 4.3 Degree Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Kupwara was recorded as minus 0.1 degree Celsius, up by over three degrees from minus 3.7 degrees Celsius yesterday.
Pahalgam recorded a jump of over three degrees in the mercury from the previous night’s low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius to minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg hill resort in north Kashmir registered an increase of two degrees from minus 8.0 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 6.0 degrees Celsius.
Kokernag hill resort in south Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius – two degrees up from yesterday’s minus 3.2 degrees Celsius while Qazigund recorded a low of minus 1.0 degrees Celsius, compared to last night’s minus 4.2 degrees Celsius.
Kargil was the coldest recorded place in the State as night temperature settled at a low of minus 14.0 degrees Celsius, as against minus 16.6 degrees Celsius the previous night and the day temperature of the place was recorded at minus 2.4 degree Celsius. Leh registered a low of minus 11.6 degrees Celsius as compared to yesterday’s minus 15.2 degrees Celsius and day temperature was recorded at 3.4 degree Celsius.
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